Key holder



i. NEWMAN KEY HOLDER Nov. 29, 1938.

Filed NOV. 24, 1936 INVENTOR ISlDOKNEWMAN .1521; ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY HOLDER Isidor Newman, New York, N. Y.

Application November 24, 1936, Serial No. 112,599

14 Claims. (01. 70456) This invention relates to key holders. comprising a flexible cover ll of any suitable An object of this invention is to provide in a construction, and here shown for the purpose of key holder of the character described, loops which illustration, as comprising a central portion l2 may be readily removed with a key thereon from and flap portions l3 and I4 foldable over the 5 the supporting pivots individually, the construc central portion and adapted to be attached to- 5 tion being such that removal of one loop will not gether in overlapping position, by complementary afiect other loops on the key holder. snap fasteners l5. Riveted or otherwise at- A further object of this invention is to provide tached to the inner surface of the central portion in a key holder of the character described, a 12 of the cover, and adjacent one end thereof, is

key supporting loop mounted on the pivotal supa .rigid, metal backing or supporting plate I3. 10 port and which is removable from the pivotal The same is provided with a plurality of aligned, support and from which the key may be removed spaced, projecting, rolled-over tab portions ll, without removing the loop, the construction besupporting a fixed through pin l8. Pivotally ing such as to prevent accidental removal or loss supported on said through pin area plurality of 15 of either the keys or the loops. similar loop supports 20. 15

Yet another object of this invention is to pro- Each loop support comprises a cap-like memvide a strong, rugged and neat key holder of the ber 2| having apertured ears 22 located in the character described, which shall be relatively inspaces or notches Ila between the rolled-over expensive to manufacture, simple to manipulate, portions I! and receiving through the apertures,

and, withal, practical and efiicient to a high dethe elongated pin 18. Each cap 2| has a central 2O ree. annular opening 24 and seated within the cap Other objects of this invention will in part be is a disc 25 having an outwardly pressed strap obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. portion 26 extending through said annular open- The invention accordingly consists in the feaing. Each member 25 rotates about the axis of 25 tures of construction, combinations of elements, its cap 2| and about an axis perpendicular to the 25 and arrangement of parts which will be exemaxis of pin I8.

plified in the construction hereinafter described, On each strap portion 26 is an improved key and of which the scope of application will be inretaining loop 30. Each loop 33 is made of a dicated in the following claims. resilient elongated flat strip of metal 3!, shown 30 In the accompanying drawing, in. which is in Fig. 6, and having similar end edges 32 adapt- 30 shown one of the various possible illustrative emed to be cut with the same die. The end edges are bodiments of this invention, cut to provide similar, symmetrically disposed Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a. key holdtabs 33 at the ends of each complementary recer with the flexible cover partly opened; tangular strip 3| which are adapted to sidelap 35 Fig. 2 is a perspective partial View of the key when the strip is bent on suitable tools to form 35 holder showing the position of the loop just the loop 30. One tab is at one side edge of the prior to removal thereof from the pivotal supstrip and the other tab is at the other side edge po of said strip. The tabs are complementary and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustratthe end edges forming the tabs come into contact ing the method of removing the loop; when the loop is formed from the blank. Each 40 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a loop removed loop 30 is preferably of hour glass shape and is from the key holder with a key thereon; a continuous member, having a small loop por- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a key retaining tion 35 at one end and a large loop portion 36 at loop in open position permitting a key to be inthe other. Between the loop portions 35, 36 is a serted or removed therefrom; constricted portion 31, providing a space, how- 45 Fig. 6 is a top plan View of a blank from which ever, through which a key or strap portion may my improved key retaining loop is made; be pushed. The complementary tab portions Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the key 33 are at the smaller loop portion 35 and disposed holder disclosing the position of the loop when side by side and not in overlapping or underthe key is to be removed from the loop without lapping relation, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 6 of 50 removing the loop from its pivotal support; and the drawing, thus saving in metal, simplying Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a key retaining manufacture and facilitating separation of the loop embodying a modified form of the invention. split ends of the loop.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, Iii Each loop engages a strapportion 26 and may designates a key holder embodying the invention, be readily removed from the strap byseparating 55 the edge-lapping tab portions 33, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawing. When the tab portions 33 are separated to open the split end of the loop, the strap portion may pass between the abs. Upon releasing pressure from the loop the portions 33 move back into engaging or edge contacting position.

The key may also be removed from the loop without taking the loop oif its pivotal support. Such removal of the key may be accomplished by first maneuvering the loop to bring the strap into the larger loop portion 36, as disclosed in Fig. 7 of the drawing. The key may then be removed by again spreading the tab portions 33 of the smaller loop portion.

It will now be understood that the loops may be removed individually, and that removal of one loop does not affect removal of the others. Furthermore, as shown on the drawing, the loop 30 is continuous and of equal width all around.

It will be noted that the end edge of each tab 33 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strip 3|. The end edges of the tabs contact parallel shoulders formed at the opposite ends of the strip. With such construction the loop may be opened up to separate the split ends for insertion or removal of the key or for insertion or removal of a strap portion. However, the shoulders engaging the ends of the tabs act as stops to limit movement of the split ends toward each other. The longitudinal contacting edges of said tabs are preferably located on the longitudinal axis of the strip 3|, whereby said tabs are of equal width.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a key retaining loop 33a embodying a modified form of the invention. The loop 30a is likewise split at the upper end of the smaller loop portion 35 thereof above the constricted portion 31a. thereof. The adjacent ends 48 and 4| of the smaller loop portion 35c, however, at the top overlap and are offset, one up wardly and one downwardly, to form shoulders 46a and 41a. The shoulder 40a at the inner end of the offset portion 40 serves as a stopfor the outer edge of the offset portion 4|, whereas the shoulders 4 Ia at the inner end of the offset portion 4| serves as a stop for the outer edge of the offset portion 48. The lower offset portion 40 may be formed with a socket and the upper portion 4| formed with a detent 42 adapted to snap into said socket to hold the ends 40 and 4| against accidental separation.

Since the split is at one end of the loop, when the loop is spread or opened, the two sides of the loop open like jaws bending about the other end of the loop thus facilitating the opening or spreading operation.

Although the loop has been illustrated in the drawing as being of hour glass shape, it will be understood that my invention may be embodied in key retaining loops of other shapes, for example, oval or any other elongated loop shape. Furthermore, although my improved loop has been illustrated in the drawing as applied to a key holder having pivoted strap members mounted on pivoted caps, as illustrated in my Patent No. 1,634,115 issued June 28, 1927, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in key holders of various types and mounted either on pivoted straps or on fixed straps, or any other loop supports.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new my desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a key holder, in combination, a plate supporting a pin, a plurality of members individually pivoted about the axis of said pin and each having a strap portion, and a key'retaining loop receiving each strap portion, each loop being made of an elongated fiat strip of metal bent to form a continuous split loop, said loop having at the split thereof, tabs disposed side by side with the end edges of the strip in engagement.

2. A key retaining loop for a key holder made of a single elongated flat strip of resilient metal, said loop being generally of hour glass shape and having a relatively large loop portion at one end and a relatively small loop portion at the other end with a constricted intermediate portion, the small loop portion being split to form symmetrical tabs disposed side by side in edge-contacting relatibn.

3. In a key holder, in combination, a plate supporting a pin, a plurality of members individually pivoted about the axis of said pin, a strap on each of said members rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said pin, a loop receiving each of said strap portions, said loop being split. with the end edges of said loop in edge-contacting position, whereby said loops may be spread open and individually removed from said straps.

4. A key retaining loop for a key holder made of a single, elongated, fiat strip of resilient metal, said loop being of hour glass shape having a larger loop portion, a smaller loop portion, and an intermediate constricted portion, the top of said smaller loop portion being split to permit the loop to be spread open for separating said split ends to permit insertion of a key between said split ends for engagement with said loop or removal of a key from said loop.

5. A key retaining loop for a key holder made of a single, elongated, fiat strip of resilient metal, said loop being of hour glass shape having a larger loop portion, a smaller loop portion, and an intermediate constricted portion, the top of said smaller loop portion being split to permit the loop to be spread open for separating said split ends to permit insertion of a key between said split ends for engagement with said loop or removal of a key from said loop, each split end having a shoulder engaging the other split end serving as a stop to limit movement of said split ends toward one another.

6. A key retaining loop for a key holder made of a single, elongated, flat strip of resilient metal, said loop being of hour glass shape having a larger loop portion, a smaller loop portion, and an intermediate constricted portion, the top of said smaller loop portion being split to permit the loop to be spread open for separating said split ends to permit insertion of a key between said split ends for engagement with said loop or removal of a key from said loop, said smaller loop, at said split, having similar symmetrically disposed tabs in side by side, edge contacting relation.

'7. A key retaining loop for a key holder made of a single, elongated, fiat strip of resilient metal,

said loop being of hour glass shape having a larger loop portion, a smaller loop portion, and an intermediate constricted portion, the top of said smaller loop portion being split to permit the loop to be spread open for separating said split ends to permit insertion of a key between said split ends for engagement with said loop or removal of a key from said loop, the adjacent split ends overlapping, and at least one being ofi3- set to form a shoulder engaging the end edge of the other.

8. A key retaining loop for a key holder made of a single, elongated, flat strip of resilient metal, said loop being of hour glass shape having a larger loop portion, a smaller loop portion, and an intermediate constricted portion, the top of said smaller loop portion being split to permit the loop to be spread open for separating said split ends to permit insertion of a key between said split ends for engagement with said loop or removal of a key from said loop, the adjacent split ends overlapping, and at least one being offset to form a shoulder engaging the end edge of the other, said overlapping portions having a pin and socket snap connection.

9. A key retaining loop for a key holder made of a single, elongated, flat strip of resilient metal, said loop being of hour glass shape having a larger loop portion, a smaller loop portion, and an intermediate constricted portion, the top of said smaller loop portion being split to permit the loop to be spread open for separating said split ends to permit insertion of a key between said split ends for engagement with said loop or removal of a key from said loop, said smaller loop, at said split, having similar symmetrically disposed tabs in side by side, edge contacting relation, and said tabs being disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said key holder, and remaining in edge to edge contact throughout progressively decreasing lengths as said holder is spread open.

10. A key retaining loop for a key holder made of a single, elongated, flat strip of resilient metal, said loop being of hour glass shape having a larger loop portion, a smaller loop portion, and an intermediate constricted portion, the top of said smaller loop portion being split to permit the loop to be spread open for separating said split ends to permit insertion of a key between said split ends for engagement with said loop or removal of a key from said loop, said smaller loop, at said split, having similar symmetrically disposed tabs in side by side, edge contacting relation, said tabs being disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said key holder, and remaining in edge to edge contact throughout progressively decreasing lengths as said holder is spread open, the end of each tab abutting a shoulder at the inner end of the other tab to serve as stops to limit movement of said split ends of said holder toward each other.

11. In a key holder, in combination, a key retaining loop made of a single, elongated resilient piece of metal, said loop being generally of hour glass shape having an intermediate constricted portion, and loop portions on either side of said constricted portion, one of said loop portions being smaller than the other, and said smaller loop portion being split, a support extending through the smaller loop portion, the smaller of said loop portions, and the larger loop portion being adapted to receive a'key being split.

12. In a key holder, in combination, a key retaining loop made of a single, elongated resilient piece of metal, said loop being generally of hour glass shape having an intermediate constricted portion, and loop portions on either side of said constricted portion, one of said loop portions being smaller than the other, and said smaller loop portion being split, a support extending through the smaller loop portion, and the larger loop portion being adapted to receive a key, the

smaller of said loop portions being split, and said smaller loop, at said split having similar symmetrically disposed tabs in side by side, edge contacting relation.

13. In a key holder, in combination, a key retaining loop made of a single, elongated resilient piece of metal, said loop being generally of hour glass shape having an intermediate constricted portion, and loop portions on either side of said constricted portion, one of said loop portions being smaller than the other, and said smaller loop portion being split, a support extending through the smaller loop portion, and the larger loop portion being adapted to receive a key, the smaller of said loop portions being split, said smaller loop, at said split having similar symmetrically disposed tabs in side by side, edge contacting relation, said tabs being disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said loop.

14. In combination, a member, a plurality of loop supports thereon, a key retaining loop on each support, each loop being made of a single elongated strip of resilient metal and being of hour glass shape, and having an intermediate constricted portion and loop portions on each side of said constricted portion, one loop portion being smaller than the other loop portion, the smaller loop portion being split, said loop supports passing through the smaller loop portions, said larger loop portions being adapted to receive a key, said loops being removable individually from their respective supports by spreading said loops apart at their splits, and said keys being movable from the larger loop portions to the smaller loop portions upon spreading the loops open to enlarge the space at the constriction, and said keys being removable from said loops by the spreading of said loops apart, the removal of one loop from each support being independent of the other loops.

ISIDOR NEWMAN. 

